Issaquah awarded for sustainability efforts

May 5, 2009

By Staff

Less than a week after city officials pocketed a King County award for environmental leadership, Issaquah received a national honor for its sustainability efforts. City officials announced the award April 27.The city was one of four small communities honored in the 2009 Siemens Sustainable Community Program. The award comes from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center and the Siemens Corp. The Sustainable Community Program, now in its second year, recognizes public-private sustainability initiatives.

Organizers lauded city officials for efforts to preserve open space and taking measures to concentrate growth in urban villages. They said the city “has a strong history of employing aggressive natural area acquisition and restoration; creative, leading-edge urban design; and innovative resource conservation strategies.” Organizers also cited the city’s role in the construction of zHome, a planned townhouse development designed to produce as much electricity as it consumes.

“American communities are showing ingenuity and leadership in how they plan for their futures,” Stephen Jordan, executive director of the Business Civic Leadership Center, said in a news release. “We congratulate Issaquah for its commitment to sustainable growth.”

The other honorees in the category are Dalton, Ga., Los Alamos County, N.M., and New Cassel, N.Y.

“It was wonderful to hear that our community is being honored, at a national level, for its sustainability efforts,” Mayor Ava Frisinger said in a news release. “Now, more than ever, it’s extremely important that we stay focused on enhancing Issaquah’s sustainability for the future.”

Issaquah and 12 other communities were recognized May 4 at the National Conference on Corporate Community Investment in Chicago.

On Earth Day, Issaquah received a Green Globe award from King County for efforts to preserve open space.